Prevention of Future Deaths reports · 2016

Jonathan Fry

Regulation 28 report to prevent future deaths, reference 2016-0193, written 16 May 2016. A coroner writes one of these when an inquest reveals a risk that could cause further deaths unless something changes.

Date of report16 May 2016
Reference2016-0193
DeceasedJonathan Fry
CoronerKate Thomas
Coroner areaMid Kent and Medway
CategoryHospital Death (Clinical Procedures and medical management) related deaths
Organisation namedMedway NHS Foundation Trust
Sourcejudiciary.uk record · original PDF
Responses publishednone published

The report

Text recovered by OCR from a scanned PDF. OCR is imperfect: check anything you rely on against the source PDF. Reproduced verbatim, including the scan's own layout.

REGULATION 28: REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS (1)

REGULATION 28 REPORT TO PREVENT FUTURE DEATHS
THIS REPORT IS BEING SENT TO:

1. The Chief Medical Officer
Medway NHS Foundation Trust

1 | CORONER

| am Kate Thomas Assistant Coroner, for the coroner area of Mid Kent
and Medway.

2 | CORONER’S LEGAL POWERS

| make this report under paragraph 7, Schedule 5, of the Coroners and
Justice Act 2009 and regulations 28 and 29 of the Coroners
(Investigations) Regulations 2013.

3 | INVESTIGATION and INQUEST

On the 6" of May 2015 | commenced an investigation into the death of
Jonathan Lewis Fry, aged 58 years. The investigation concluded at the
end of the Inquest on the 29" April 2016. The conclusion of the inquest
was natural causes.

4 | CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DEATH

On the 16" of April 2015 Mr Fry was admitted to the Accident and
Emergency Department following an un-witnessed fall. He had a history
of low blood pressure and was alcohol dependant with controlled
diabetes. He was started on DVT prophylaxis although the probability of a
DVT leading to a Pulmonary Embolism (PE) was considered low in
someone with Chronic Liver Disease.

He was diagnosed with a L1 compression fracture and was referred to
the Orthopaedic Team for assessment. He was deemed not to be a
trauma patient and accordingly was suitable to be admitted into the care
of the Medical Team. This did not happen and he remained in the care of
the Orthopaedic Team, the plan being that the Medical Team would both
assess and advise on Mr Fry’s clinical care plan.

Mr Fry was admitted onto an orthopaedic ward. He did not have either a

senior review which was the practice, by any Consultant at any time from
admission to his death ( the Orthopaedic Consultant was sick with no
locum cover ).

On the 17" April at 10.25 am Mr Fry had a review by a Medical Registrar
and an Orthopaedic SHO. A CT scan ordered of the chest abdomen and
pelvis but this did not happen and there was no record that this omission
was considered or followed up.

In the afternoon of the 17" April Mr Fry was reviewed by orthopaedic
SHO.

The medical notes are unclear as to what reviews if any were had on the
18" of April. There is no sign of any Medical Team review and although
evidence at the Inquest suggested that reviews would have taken place
as this was routine. There were entries in the drug balance chart which
suggested some review of Mr Fry’s medications had taken place.

On the 19" April there was a SHO review by the Orthopaedic team —
there is an entry (untimed ) that a Medical Registrar saw Mr Fry.

The Critical Care Outreach Team (CCOT) reviewed Mr Fry at 11.16 as
his News Score was scoring a persistent 9 — 10. A physical examination
did not suggest a DVT or PE.

His demand for oxygen had risen but he was not in distress and a request
for a Respiratory Team review was made — although this was not
possible before his death. The CCOT worker was reassured that the
Medical Registrar was there although it transpired he had been called
away due to a Cardiac Arrest. Mr Fry was physically unwell but alert and
talking. It was assumed that Mr Fry’s oxygen demand had gone up due
to the chest infection.

During the afternoon on of the 19" April his News Score rose to 11

He was seen again by CCOT at 11.30 pm and 1 am during the night of
the 19" in to the 20" April. Mr Fry was peripherally cold and it was
difficult to obtain an arterial reading. A SHO was consulted who advised
that another attempt to obtain an arterial reading be made between 5 — 6
am and that IV fluids were to continue. Mr Fry again displayed no
physical signs of a DVT or PE.

Shortly before 6 am on the 20" April the CCOT worker returned — she
was told that at 5.10 there had been a drop in Mr Fry’s oxygen
saturations and a mask and then nasal oxygen had been administered
and his oxygen levels had risen — he continued to have a news of 11. He
was last observed at 5.45. At 6 am Mr Fry was found unresponsive and
despite attempts could not be resuscitated.

The medical cause of death after Post Mortem Examination was recorded
as

1a) Pulmonary Embolism
1b) Deep Venous Thrombosis

Il Fracture of the Lumbar Spine

CORONER’S CONCERNS

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise
to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur
unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to
report to you.

The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. —

1) There was no Senior review by a Consultant from admission to the
time of his death and was no locum cover

2 ) There was no daily review of test results and no consideration given to
instances where tests had not been performed or consoderation given to
to the reasons why

3 ) Medical records were inconsistent and / or incomplete leading to a
lack of clarity as to reviews and care plan.

ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and |
believe your organisation have the power to take such action.

YOUR RESPONSE

You are under a duty to respond to this report within 56 days of the date
of this report, namely by the 12" June 2016, the Coroner, may extend the
period.

Your response must contain details of action taken or proposed to be
taken, setting out the timetable for action. Otherwise you must explain
why no action is proposed.

COPIES and PUBLICATION

| have sent a copy of my report to the Chief Coroner and to the following
Interested Persons :

my UOté‘é=SSS Next of Kin

Department of Health
Care Quality Commission

| am also under a duty to send the Chief Coroner a copy of your
response.

The Chief Coroner may publish either or both in a complete or redacted
or summary form. He may send a copy of this report to any person who
he believes may find it useful or of interest. You may make
representations to me, the coroner, at the time of your response, about
the release or the publication of your response by the Chief Coroner.

Kate Thomas
Assistant Coroner

16" May 2016

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